Audio Control DQL-8, Owner'S Manual

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Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
AudioControl
®
Adjusting the Equalizer
When it comes to music, everyone’s taste is
different. Some people want pounding bass and
crisp, blood curdling highs. Others may prefer
a “flat” response (whatever the heck that is). At
the end of the day, most people just want their
system to sound balanced, “just like it did in the
store” or their buddy’s car. The following equal-
ization guidelines should help you achieve your
own personal audio nirvana.
1) For optimum performance, get your hands
on a test compact disc that contains pink noise
and a good quality RTA (real-time analyzer);
we happen to know someone who makes a
really good one. If you cannot locate an RTA,
you probably want to have your authorized
AudioControl dealer perform the equalization
adjustments, as they will likely have an ana-
lyzer. You can certainly adjust your DQL-8 using
your ears, however an RTA will give you the best
results.
2) Begin playing pink noise through your sys-
tem and place the microphone for your analyzer
on a microphone stand in the driver’s seat. Take
a careful look at the “curve” on your analyzer
and how one frequency combines with the next.
There is no one curve that will satisfy every
person, as we all have different tastes. (How else
can you explain Liberace, Brittany Spears or rice
cakes?) The key is to use your DQL-8 to help
balance your system from one frequency to the
next and give your speakers the sparkle, sizzle,
detail or punch that the acoustics of the car have
compromised.
3) Start equalizing by removing any large
bumps, peaks, or areas with too much energy at
a particular frequency. Next, boost the ranges
that do not have enough energy. We strongly rec-
ommend that you cut or decrease energy before
you boost. Try to keep any boosts to +6dB or less
for best performance.
4) Although the plethora of controls on your
DQL-8 can be intimidating, fear not; they were
designed to give enough control to maximize
your system’s performance but not enough to
get you in trouble. Here is an explanation of the
key areas you should focus on:
Sub-bass: 100 Hz and below - A car with-
out bass is like a day without sunshine, unless
you live where we do because most of the days
in the Pacific Northwest do not have sunshine.
Bass is one of the more critical areas and it is also
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